Indigenous agreement as Anglo American explores the North West

Anglo American is teaming up with a key Indigenous group as it launches into exploration programs at new sites in North-West Queensland.

The company was recently granted permits to explore about 7300sq km in an area south of Mount Isa and west of Boulia.

Anglo American said it had formed a partnership of up to five years with the Pitta Pitta Aboriginal Corporation, on behalf of the Pitta Pitta people.

Chief Executive Officer of Anglo American’s Australian business, Tyler Mitchelson, said the agreement would see the company working closely with the Pitta Pitta people to undertake cultural heritage and associated activities as part of upcoming mineral exploration in the Boulia area.

“We’re proud of our new agreement with the Pitta Pitta People, which will see us working closely together to conduct hands-on surveys of the tenement area to identify and protect any future cultural heritage finds,” he said.

“Members of Anglo American’s discovery team have also undertaken cultural heritage awareness training with the Pitta Pitta people, ensuring they learn about the significance of the area to the Pitta Pitta people, and the immense importance of sacred sites.”

Anglo American has commenced exploration activities in the region, including geophysical surveys using cutting-edge geoscience technology.

It said survey results would be assessed at the end of the year to determine future exploration plans.

Mr Mitchelson said the presence of deposits such as Mount Isa, Ernest Henry and Cannington in the North West made it a logical place to explore for various styles of base metal deposits, including copper.